Chapter 8: Departure or Staying

Sanyi Sect, Main Hall.

Zuo Ruotong sat in the seat of honor, with several disciples holding key positions within the sect seated in order below him.

"Senior Brother, I heard from the disciples a couple of days ago that you have taken in a young man?"

The first to speak was a sturdy, elderly man with white hair and a white beard named Si Chong. As Zuo Ruotong’s junior fellow apprentice, he held the highest status in the Sanyi Sect aside from Zuo Ruotong himself.

"Is there something special about that young man? To think you would make an exception to take him in."

In Si Chong’s view, although his senior brother was a kind man, he would never casually accept a disciple of unknown origins. Even Li Muxuan, the son of the Sanyi Sect’s greatest patron, had been required to honestly participate in the lower courtyard trials. The result, however...

Hearing Si Chong’s words, Zuo Ruotong shook his head slightly and said in a calm tone, "That child simply shares a karmic connection with the Sanyi Sect."

Without waiting for Si Chong to press further, he looked toward the young, white-haired man sitting on the last cushion: Lu Jin.

"Jin'er, what do you think of that child?"

Ever since agreeing to let Li Ang enter the lower courtyard for trials that day, Zuo Ruotong had sent his disciple to observe Li Ang’s conduct. Thus, among those present, Lu Jin was arguably the one who understood Li Ang best.

Facing his master’s inquiry, the young man’s expression turned peculiar. After a moment of hesitation, he tentatively voiced his observations: "Master, for these past few days, Li Ang has been chopping wood and fetching water until nightfall, taking only brief breaks to eat."

"And from what I have observed..."

"He seems to actually enjoy it."

Once these words were spoken, the hall fell into a strange silence. Everyone present had secretly seen Li Ang, and their impression of him was that of a pampered young master—after all, in this era, how could a poor person have such fair, clean skin? Yet, Lu Jin’s words caught them completely off guard.

"Has the boy lost his mind?" Si Chong muttered subconsciously. But soon, the old man realized something else: "Can his body withstand it?"

Chopping wood and fetching water were not easy tasks. If he wasn't slacking off, it could only mean that Li Ang’s physical constitution was exaggeratedly good. It wouldn't be strange if he had already stepped onto the path of cultivation, but the key issue was that Li Ang was still just an ordinary person—or at least, he appeared to be one to the members of the Sanyi Sect, as they were unaware of the existence of a "job panel."

Thinking of this, Si Chong instinctively looked at Zuo Ruotong, wondering to himself: "Is this the reason Senior Brother was willing to take him in?"

As everyone harbored different thoughts, Zuo Ruotong asked, "Jin'er, did you ask him about his family?"

Lu Jin opened his mouth, his expression turning grim. "...Master, he said he cannot go back home."

"It likely isn't a lie."

Unable to return to Earth meant unable to return home; the logic held up. Hearing this, Zuo Ruotong sighed softly. In these chaotic times, broken families were all too common.

Lu Jin added, "However, Li Ang must have come from a wealthy family; his knowledge of numerology is not something a common household could teach. And he can even speak foreign languages."

Coming from a wealthy background himself, Lu Jin felt that, apart from matters regarding the Mystic Sect, Li Ang’s general knowledge was even broader than his own. His words proved that Li Ang was not mentally unstable; on the contrary, he was quite intelligent.

"So, Senior Brother, do you intend to officially accept him?" Si Chong asked. Although Li Ang’s performance had been impressive, the Sanyi Sect was, after all, a sect of the Mystic arts, and they placed great importance on one's innate talent for cultivation.

Silence fell over the hall. After a moment, Zuo Ruotong let out a soft breath and said to Lu Jin, "You all may leave. Jin'er, go bring him to see me."

The members of the Sanyi Sect were somewhat confused but left the hall as instructed. Not long after, Li Ang arrived under Lu Jin’s escort.

"Jin'er, you may leave as well."

"Yes, Master."

Soon, only Li Ang and Zuo Ruotong remained. Li Ang was bewildered; he had been happily "grinding" experience in the lower courtyard when he was suddenly summoned. He wondered to himself, "Is my performance too poor? Or perhaps too good, and they’ve decided to take me in early?"

As Li Ang’s mind wandered, Zuo Ruotong’s voice reached him.

"Li Ang, there are some things I must make clear to you. In truth, there are other places in this world more suitable for you than this sect."

Li Ang was stunned, and his heart sank with anxiety. Before he could explain how much he yearned for the Sanyi Sect, Zuo Ruotong continued: "But because you have read the manuscripts left behind by our predecessors, I cannot send you to join another sect. I hope you will not hold a grudge against the Sanyi Sect for this."

The principle that "the Dharma must not be lightly transmitted" was one Li Ang understood. As the supreme art of the Sanyi Sect, the "Triple Inversion of Life," Zuo Ruotong would not easily let anyone who had "seen" its contents walk away. Besides, this was the persona Li Ang had built for himself; he certainly wouldn't resent the sect.

While Li Ang was still stunned, Zuo Ruotong stood up, walked over, and placed a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Since you have read the manuscripts, you should know that breaking through the levels of the Triple Inversion of Life is perilous, but what is written in books lacks the weight of reality." Zuo Ruotong paused. "Follow me. I will take you to see some people. If, after seeing them, you are still willing to join the Sanyi Sect, I will accept you as my disciple. But if you are afraid..."

"Then you shall work as an accountant in our sect's pharmacy."

With that, the "Immortal of Daying" stepped out of the hall. Li Ang followed without the slightest hesitation; for him, this was a simple choice.

In silence, the two arrived before a side hall. As Zuo Ruotong pushed the door open, several gaunt, withered figures appeared before Li Ang. These were clearly those who had failed in their cultivation of the Triple Inversion of Life.

Unfortunately, such a scene could not scare Li Ang, for he did not need to take such risks. Once he successfully unlocked the job class [Qi Practitioner (Sanyi)], he would gain the corresponding skill: Triple Inversion of Life. He could even improve his proficiency in the skill later to raise his realm, without ever having to risk his life like a normal sect member.

What were they babbling about? He was a gamer with a job panel.

"Job panel, show me your profound wisdom!"

With that thought in mind, Li Ang straightened his expression, knelt on the ground, and bowed deeply to Zuo Ruotong, speaking two words with absolute solemnity:

"Master."